Douglas Murray latest San Jose Shark headed to Europe

SAN JOSE -- With Douglas Murray signing a contract to play in Sweden, six Sharks are in Europe or heading there. Four have gone back to the area where they grew up. The rest remain here.

Friday was supposed to be the start of Sharks training camp for the 2012-13 season, but an NHL lockout now in its sixth day means that teammates are scattered around the globe. And the moment when work begins to fulfill the dream of becoming the next Stanley Cup champion is postponed indefinitely.

Maybe only half jokingly, that was the one upside that Adam Burish, one of two Sharks free agent acquisitions over the summer, found in the situation.

"If there's one thing I'm not sad about missing it's the bike testing and the jumping and all that stuff that starts training camp always," Burish said, referring to the fitness and medical tests that take place annually.

Burish was one of five San Jose players who rented a rink at Sharks Ice on Friday, the lowest turnout since players began skating together several weeks ago. But he hopes to land a spot in a European lineup soon.

"The last few days I've been bored out of my mind. Obviously I'm exploring going over and playing," said Burish, a gritty forward who signed a four-year, $7.4 million contract in July. "I like having a schedule, I like having things to do."

Changing teams adds to the problem beyond just settling into a new city, Burrish said.

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"For me, when you go to a new team you want to get to know the guys, you want to hang out with them, you want to skate with them, you want to train with them," he said. "Now I don't get a chance. I don't get to see the team dynamics, see how guys are together, how guys interact. That's kind of tough for me."

Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski — two of the other Sharks skating Friday — said they had not ruled out joining Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, Marty Havlat, Michal Handzus, Jason Demers and Douglas Murray in Europe.

"I've got to keep all options open. I'm playing it day-to-day basically, said Marleau, who added that having a wife and two children isn't necessarily a big obstacle. "It depends on where you go. I think certain leagues have a week to 12-day breaks so you could fly home to see your family. It's not ideal obviously."

Pavelski said it's about finding the best way to be prepared for the start of the season — whenever that comes. And he wasn't about to predict when that might happen.